moho-photoshop elements

[BeeListener]

I know the Photoshop (PS) - Moho pipeline is very stable now. Thank you My question is: If I use the cheaper version of PS, namely, Photoshop Elements (PSE), do changes to PSE layer files update dynamically in in Moho files too?

[Greenlaw]

I don't use Photoshop Elements but I believe it exports layered PSD like Photoshop, and you should be able to use it in Moho Pro. Generally speaking, any bitmap program that exports layered PSD should be compatible with Moho Pro. This includes programs like the free Krita, and Procreate on iPad.

Just be aware that not all advanced layer features are supported in Moho and you need to give your PSD layers sensible names.

Update: I'd never heard of the PSE format so I looked it up. For Elements, PSD is the native format for a single image with multiple layers, and PSE is the format is for documents with multiple pages. Just be sure you are saving to the PSD format with the layers option enabled and it should be fine for Moho Pro.

Alternatively, if you're on a tight budget, you might look into using Krita to create PSD files. Krita is a very powerful paint and illustration program and it's completely free. (Donation is encouraged!)

[BeeListener]

Greenlaw, thanks very much for looking into the native file format of PSE. I recently retired from professional illustration & animating, so let go of my Adobe suite which is pretty expensive when you're a pensioner. But I continue to do my own projects. Like Moho, PSE is a onetime purchase, so quite a savings if you don't need the massive capabilities of the full Photoshop.
Yes, Krita is lovely and lightweight. I know it can export in PS format, which opens perfectly in PSE and Procreate, but I'm pretty sure Krita native files don't dynamically update in Moho. For me dynamic updates are pretty essential for animation in Moho of cut up picturebook illustration.

So after reading your message I ran a few dynamic update tests of changing layers in a PSE file linked to a Moho file:
painting on a layer, then undoing
warping a layer, then undoing
merging 3 layers, then undoing
adding a layer, then undoing
Great news! Provided I saved after each action in PSE, Moho instantly updated. Moho did crash after the merge of 3 layers, but reopened with the merge in place. Otherwise Moho's updates of changes in the PSE file were instantaneous and stable.

[Greenlaw]

Glad you got that working with Elements and thanks for letting me know.

...I'm pretty sure Krita native files don't dynamically update in Moho. For me dynamic updates are pretty essential for animation in Moho of cut up picturebook illustration.

I just ran a quick test using Krita and Moho. If you save your layered Krita document as PSD, Krita will continue to save it as a layered PSD. When this file is imported to Moho, Moho will dynamically update the image when you change it in Krita and press Ctrl-S to re-save it.

This leads me to think Moho doesn't care where the PSD file comes from so long as the file conforms to a few rules regarding layer type and layer names.

I don't remember all the rules off the top of my head but basically you're safe with standard RGB layers, and basic options like transparency and the most common blend modes. As of Moho 13.5.5, merging, adding and deleting layers in the PSD editing program is allowed. This wasn't possible in earlier versions of Moho because Moho checked only for changes the PSD file's internal layer IDs. The latest version of Moho checks for layer names first (which is why sensible layer naming is important,) and then it falls back on checking the layer IDs when it doesn't find the expected layer names.

I used to avoid using PSD in Moho because of the Layer ID issues, but after 13.5.5 was release, layered PSD has worked very well in Moho.

Very cute teaser by the way. Will look forward to seeing the final version!